Containers, biodegradable Packaging

In terms of biodegradable polymers, PLA is finding growing use for manufacture of thermoformed articles such as single-use disposable cups and trays, particularly for outdoor events. Starch-based biodegradable polymers can also be thermoformed for production of trays and containers for packaging fresh food and convenience food. 

Major retailers and food manufacturers have opted for biodegradable packaging in 2005. For example, Wal-Mart Stores selected NatureWorks PLA to manufacture containers for herbs and other products, while Del Monte Fresh Produce increased its use of NatureWorks PLA for packaging fruit. 

Starch-based biodegradable plastics are used for the manufacture of thermoformed trays and containers for packaging fresh food and convenience food. 

MAJOR APPLICATIONS In bacteria, PHB is a carbon reserve. The purified product is used as biodegradable packaging (bottles, containers, sheets, films, laminates, fibers, and coatings), especially as a copolymer of /3-hydroxybutyrate and /3-hydroxyvalerate. In biomedical applications, it is an excipient, a prosthetic material, etc. In organic syntheses, it provides chiral synthons. 

S. Guilbert, B. Cuq, and N. Gontard. Recent innovations in edible and or biodegradable packaging materials. Food Addif. Contain. 14 (6-7), 741-751 (1997). 

Currently, NatureWorks is largest producer of PLA for domestic applications. NatureWorks employs lactide ring-opening polymerization for the mass production of 140,000 MT per year of PLA, which is branded as Ingeo . NatureWorks PLA is produced mainly for biodegradable packaging, containers, clothing, fibers, etc. Purac is the major producer of PLA for the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries. 

Kale et al. (Kale, Auras, Singh, 2006) studied the compostability of three commercially available biodegradable packages made of PLA, in particular water bottles, trays and, deli containers, to composting and to ambient exposure and obtained excellent results in terms of extending the shelf life of different food products. If PLA plastic can... 

Due to the fact that PET contains hydrolysable linkages in the backbone of the polymer chain, these results suggest that PET may be an inherently biodegradable polymer when exposed to appropriate conditions. This should lead to a much expanded use of the polymer, particularly for beverage containers and packaging films. 

The most well known application of PHB and poly(3HB-co-3HV) is as substitute for conventional, non-biodegradable plastics used for packaging purposes and derived products [21, 115, 116]. Single-use bottles for shampoos, cosmetics and biodegradable motor-oil have been manufactured from these biopolyesters by common molding techniques. Containers and cups for food products were developed similarly, and bags have been produced from blown films of the material. 

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